By: Andrew Gong ’21
Juan Colin is the new STEAM room coordinator and robotics teacher. He currently teaches the eighth and ninth period robotics electives, both of which meet on even days. After school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Colin holds meetings for the robotics team to help them prepare for upcoming tournaments. On Fridays after school, he also advises the STEAM Engineers club after school.
Colin was born and raised in Mexico City. He attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he majored in engineering. He has also written computer programs for firms such as the Federal Bank of Mexico and Panamerican University. After moving to Los Angeles in 2011, Colin received a master’s degree in education from Antioch University.
Colin has taught high school age groups for the Los Angeles Unified School District and Chadwick Schools.
“The most difficult ones to teach at those levels are the 12th graders… because [they] have the idea that they are done,” Colin said.
Colin said that his move to a school where he can teach brighter and younger students was a good one because they are more attentive and more ready to learn.
Colin’s advice to students aspiring to be engineers is to explore other fields and not focus solely on engineering.
“Don’t fall into the trap of being obsessed with engineering, technology and math. There is a whole world there of art, science, music and literature that is waiting,” Colin said.
Colin’s students said that they enjoy his teaching.
“[He] is an extremely smart teacher and is a very good influence… I wish him the best of luck in his first year here,” Dylan Field ‘21 said.